RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 <em>Overdrive</em> is essential for targeted sperm elimination by <em>Segregation Distorter</em>
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2024.06.04.597441
DO 10.1101/2024.06.04.597441
A1 Ridges, Jackson T.
A1 Bladen, Jackson
A1 King, Thomas D.
A1 Brown, Nora C.
A1 Large, Christopher R. L.
A1 Cooper, Jacob C.
A1 Jones, Amanda J.
A1 Loppin, Benjamin
A1 Dubruille, Raphaëlle
A1 Phadnis, Nitin
YR 2024
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2024/06/06/2024.06.04.597441.abstract
AB Intra-genomic conflict driven by selfish chromosomes is a powerful force that shapes the evolution of genomes and species. In the male germline, many selfish chromosomes bias transmission in their own favor by eliminating spermatids bearing the competing homologous chromosomes. However, the mechanisms of targeted gamete elimination remain mysterious. Here, we show that Overdrive (Ovd), a gene required for both segregation distortion and male sterility in Drosophila pseudoobscura hybrids, is broadly conserved in Dipteran insects but dispensable for viability and fertility. In D. melanogaster, Ovd is required for targeted Responder spermatid elimination after the histone-to-protamine transition in the classical Segregation Distorter system. We propose that Ovd functions as a general spermatid quality checkpoint that is hijacked by independent selfish chromosomes to eliminate competing gametes.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.